In an upcoming patch, Blizzard will add to their ever changing character tweaks and adjustments to balance classes throughout the game. For some reason, they gave IGN exclusive rights to show off the next phase of these character tweaks, which will apparently bring the Mage class in line with current game mechanics.

The preview can be found here

Personally I didn't have an issue with mages currently in the game, however a couple of close friends of mine who have heavily-geared, high-ranked mages seem to disagree.

Wowhead have already updated their talent calculator to reflect these changes.

Arcane tree is still weird but overall its still better then what it was.

Definately need a buff!
They can only solo farm ZG for 500g a day :p

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6215273222433818517&q=zg+mage&pl=true

U cant do that anymore i think.

Heard it got nerfed, but still possible.
(Not sure how it got nerfed though..)

What, they can't do enough damage already ?

i think the crocs are immune to snares.

Arcane Resilience
Increases your armor by an amount equal to 50% of your Intellect.
Note: Evocation, previously in this location and now a trainer spell, has been traded for one that also gives mages an armor boost.

Orrrr Yeah. I like that! Improving the crit on AE is nice too...

People forget that mages aren't 1v1 that high damage. The damage is made up by the fact that they can do the same damage to 10 units simultaneously, but that they also have the ability to keep units in place so they cant be hit by anything but a ranged attacker.

lol everything can break mage snares, besides warriors.

People forget that mages aren't 1v1 that high damage. The damage is made up by the fact that they can do the same damage to 10 units simultaneously, but that they also have the ability to keep units in place so they cant be hit by anything but a ranged attacker.

No, in a 1v1 pvp situation a mage frostbolt can crit 5000+ damage. Granted that's full epic'd, but that's pretty much 1hit ko for everyone. On top of criting like that, a following coldcone or the follow up of a bolt, that's 6-7k health gone.

http://www.warcraftmovies.com/ Search mage or crit.

No, in a 1v1 pvp situation a mage frostbolt can crit 5000+ damage. Granted that's full epic'd, but that's pretty much 1hit ko for everyone. On top of criting like that, a following coldcone or the follow up of a bolt, that's 6-7k health gone.

If that doesn't finish them off, follow it up with a Fire Blast + a couple of AE's, and that will.

But, keep in mind that there are only a select few people on each server that could actually come up with those numbers, the average mage would only be able to do half that..

average mage does far less than half that, i know plenty of epic wearing mages happy to break 1700 frost bolt

My priest can almost break that, they must be pretty badly decked out.

Fade2Black's right, a 2.5k Frostbolt would make my day.
And I'm half T1, Half T2.

These +5k Frostbolts are very rare on mages with double trinkets (arc power) and multiple buffs (and target debuffs).

two trinkets, ap, +spell damage enchants, +flask of supreme power, curse of elements, would be needed to get close..

I could get 3.8k crits on my mage, with toep, ap and zhc. to get 5k u would at least need berserking also.

It doesn't matter, even with this buff, they still won't be able to beat Warlocks =D

It doesn't matter, even with this buff, they still won't be able to beat Warlocks =D

Haha, Warlocks have got nothing, "Dot, dot, dot .... Oh s***, I've got nothing!"

^^properly speced warlocks can own. i know when i was playing my shaman had a hard time beeting warlock, not so hard to beet mages though..

its called death coil..and fear.

2 trinkets? are you guys retarded

they nurfed that s*** like years ago

its all about tear + zhc

I could get 3.8k crits on my mage, with toep, ap and zhc. to get 5k u would at least need berserking also.

Mages are glass cannons, so that's fine. But considering I can crit for 2,800 with my Hunter, who has no epics at all, I would certainly hope an epic'd mage could crit for that much.

3.8k crit with a fireball it fairly different to one with a icebolt.

Also, new rank fireball drops in AQ.
more pew pew.

Felhunter > Mages.

2.8k hunter with no epics? you hitting grey mobs?

yeah that sounds like s*** to me as well. My hunter had 8/8 GS and rok and couldnt get over 2400 or so from what I remember. My biggest multishot was like 2200 with the GS 8 peice bonus and +15% talent in marks though.

considering I can crit for 2,800 with my Hunter, who has no epics at all

Yeah I also call picsorlying on this. My hunter has 4/8 GS, rhok, BSHx2 with +15 agi on both. Buffed through the roof in MC (i.e. 601 agi, 1600 ranged AP) I'll be hitting mobs for 2.4k-2.5k, once they have 5 sunders on them. The only way I've managed to crack 2800 damage was by using Carapace Spine Crossbow BEFORE the attack speed normalization.

Only 2 epics, GS bracers and Strikers Mark + PVP gear. 375 agil.
2420 Aimshot on a Mage. 1240 Raptor Strike on a Lock. Both done in AB.

wow you guys sure are leet

i 3k holy fire

i win?

holy fire takes too long to cast, holy nova ftw ;)

http://www.users.on.net/~calmoss/20060508.jpg

hahaha